Operating means for gate valves



16, 1932- c. c. HARALSON 1,872,282

OPERATING MEANS FOR GATE VALVES Filed Sept. 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l QCf/Zzrahozz.

16, 1932- 'c. c. HARALSON 1,872,282

OPERATING MEANS FOR GATE VALVES Filed Sept. 12, 1930 3 Sheena-Sheet 2 C'C'Hahzimon.

INVENTOR WWNFSS' ATTORNEY 16, 1932- c. c. HARALSON 1,872,282

OPERATING MEANS FOR GATE VALVES Fil ed Sept. 12. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 16, 1932 ,CULL d. HARA'LsoN, OF'ELECTRA, Texas ornm rrue irniuuvs FoBeA'rn VALVES Applic ation filed September 12, 1930, Seria1 No. 4 81,490.

This invention relates to operatingmeans for gate valves, the general object of the invention being toprovide'means whereby the valve can be operated from distant-points, with means, including a cylinder and piston arrangement, associated with each valve so that when compressed fluid is introduced into one end of the cylinder, the valve will be closed and when compressed fluid is introduced into the other end, the valve will be opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for indicating the extent of opening movement of the Valves at the point where the valve operating means are located.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended-claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or p "of the cylinder and has a depending part for 7'5 corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional view with parts in elevation,'showing the operating means for a valve. 7 I

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the means for operating the valves from a distant point. Y i, I

Figure 3. is a view of the piston arrangement in each valve operating cylinder.

Figure 4 is a section on line of' Figure 3. 1

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of one of the piston cups. a y

In these drawings,;the letter A indicatesa casing for the gate valve B which controls the flow of liquid or the like through the pipe C. p a V In carrying out my invention, I support a cylinder 1 from each of the casings A through means of the uprights 2. The cylinder is provided with dome-shaped ends, the lower one of which is detachably connected with the cylinder, as shown at 3. i A pair of pistons 4 is arranged in each cylinder, the

pistons being connected together by a short rod'5 and'the lower piston is connected with the gate valve B by the connecting rod6 which passes through, the packing gland 7 at the lower end of thecylinder. I

Each piston has apacking ring 8 at the center of its circumference and a cup washer 9 is located on each end of each piston, this washer being preferably formed of rubher with its vertical wall taperedas shown at 10, and having its horizontal flange 11 flt- .ting in an annular recess 12'f0rmed in each face of the piston. A plate 13 is bolted to each face of the piston and overlaps the flange 11 to hold the cup washer in place, Thus it will be seenthat when pressure comes on the a beveled wall of the washer, the washer is forced against the cylinder wall to prevent leakage and ifrleakage should occur between the washer and the cylinder wall, the packing ring 8' will'prevent the fluid passing the 70 washer from passing entirely by theplston. The space between the two pistons is filled with oil, as shown at 14 in Figure 1..

A flange 15 is connected with the ,top part engaging the top piston to limit the upward movement of the same. A spider 16 is connected' with thetop of the detachable lower "end ofthe cylinder and a packing gland 17 is connected with said spider and with the central part of the lower part ofv thecylinder andthe connecting rod 6 passes through this gland. Y ",7

A pipe 18 is'connected with the upper'end of the cylinder and the pipe 19 with thelow- 3; er end thereof. 7 Each of these pipes contains a pressure gauge 20 and a supply pipe 21 is connected with these pipesl SL and 19 and contains a valve 22. Alvalve 2 3 is placed in the'pipe 18 and a valve 24in the pipe 19. 0'0

A substantially U- shaped pipe 25 connects a part of the pipe 18 with a part of the pipe 19 and a. discharge pipe 26 is connected with the pipe 25 and said pipe 25 contains avalve 27 which is located between thepointlofconnection of the, pipe 25 with the pipes 18 and 26 and a valve 28 whichis placed in the pipe 25 betweenits point of connection with the pipes'19and 26.

Thus by opening the valves22, 23 and 28 and closing the valves 24 and 27, fluid will flow from the pipe 21 through the pipe 18 into the top of the cylinder so as to cause the pistons to move downwardly to close the gate valve and the fluid in the lower part of the cylinder will pass through the p1pe 19 and through the valve 28 into the discharge pipe 26. \Vhen the gate valve is to be raised, the valves 23 and 28 are closed and valves 24 and 27 opened so that the fluid from the pipe 21 will pass through the pipe. 19. into the lower part of the cylinder, thus raislng the pistons and the fluid in the top ofthe cylinder will pass through pipe 18 into p pe 25 and thus into the discharge pipe 26.

. The fluid used'to operate the pistons may he a liquid or air, but the system will 0perate to better advantage when a liquid such as lubricating oil or distillate is used to transmit air pressure through the lines.

placing the valves at a central point,

a single operator can control a distant gate valve and Figure 2 shows an arrangement whereby a. plurality of gate valves can be controlled from a Central point. In this view, the pipes 18 and 19 are connected with one gate valve and pairs of pipes 18" and19, connect these pipes with the operatmeans of other gate valves, all the pipes being provided with the valves 23' and 24 so that the fluid can be caused to pass to either end of a cylinder of each gate valve. The discharge pipes 26' are connected with the pipes 18 and 19 and lead to. a manifold 29. which is connected by a pipe 30 having a A valve '31 therein to a'tank 32 which is provided with a transparent portion graduated to indicate the amount of material in the tank, the latter being of the proper cross sectional size for reasonable accuracy in functioning as an indicator forthe system. A Pipe 33, containing a valve 34, connects'the bottom of the tank 32 with the branch pipes 35, which are connected with the bottoms of the tanks 36, 37 and 38. Each of the branch pipes is provided with a valve 39, Each of tanks 32, 36,37 and 38 is provided with a valve controlled vent 40 and each ofthe tanks 36, 37 and 38 is provided with a pressiirei'gauge 41. A pipe 42 is connected with asou'rc'e of compressed air and is also connected with each of the tanks 32, 36, 37 and 38, a valve 43 controlling the flow of compressed air into each tank. The supply pipe 21 which supplies the compressed fluid to the pipes leading to the cylinders of the'gate valves is connected to each of the tanks 36, 37 and 38, with a valve 44 controlling the communication between said pipe 21 and each tank. A piston 45 is arranged in each tank 36, 37 and 38 and may be of the same construction as the piston in the cylinder 1.

Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that by means'of the valves 44, the lower end of any ofthe tanks, 36, 37 or 38, can be. connected to the delivery line 21 so that by opening a valve 43, compressed air can be led into the top of said tank to depress the piston 45 thereof so that the oil in the lower part of the tank will be expelled therefrom into the line 21 and thus directed to the cylinder of the actuating means of any desired gatejvalve. The oil returning from said cylinder will pass into the manifold 29 and by opening the valve 31 and the valve 40, the oilwillrise in the tank 32 and the graduations on the tank will indicate the amount of oilentering thetank and, therefore, the amount of opening of the gate valve. After this is done, the valve 31 is closed, as is the valve 40, and the valves 43 and 34 opened so that. compressed air will be forced into the tank 32 t'o force the oil therein through the pipe 33 back into the tank from which the. oil has been forced to supply the line 21 I i v I The manifold 29. is provided with a drain 46 containing a valve 47 and When the valves are to be operated by compressed air or the like, the valve 47' opened so that the air discharging from the cylinders which operate the gate valves will escape from the manifold. 'i I i The, tank 38 ordinarily is used as a reserve tank and should carry a suflicient amount offluid' pressure to operate the distant gate valves incase of abreak down of the C0111- pressorto, which the line 42 is connected, or ifa leak should occur intank 37 or the line which connects it with the compressor. The tank '37 carries sufficient pressure to operate distant valves, whilethe tank 36 merereceivesjthe oil from the operating means -of the gate valves and carries no pressure,

as valv4ll is. leftopen. Of course, when this tank isto be'usedas a pressure tank to operate the valveoperating means, the valve 40 is closed. In other, words, these tanks are used asihe empty and fill with oil from the valve operating means, one tank being for. a reserve, on used to operate the valve operating means and one to receive the oil from such operating. means.

It 'is'. thought from the foregoing description that the-advantages. and. novel features of the invention will be readily apparent,

. It isto be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, prov ded that such changes fall within the scope of appended claims.

What Iclaim is V I 1. In combination with a plurality of gate valves, a cylinder associated with each valve, a p ston in each cylinder connected with the correspond ng valve, a pair of pipes connected; with each cylinder, one pipe being connected to one end thereof and the other to the opposite end, a, supply. pipe, valves for connecting the same to either one of any of the pairs of pipes, a discharge pipe, valves for connecting the same with either one of any of the pairs of pipes, a manifold to which the discharge pipe is connected, an indicator tank connected with the discharge manifold, a valve controlling the connection, a supply tank to which the supply pipe is, connected, means for forcing the fluid in the indicator tank into the supply tank and means for connecting the supply tank with compressed air.

2. In combination with a plurality of gate valves, a cylinder associated With each valve, a piston in each cylinder connected with the corresponding valve, a pair of pipes connected with each cylinder, one pipe being connected to one end thereof and the other to the opposite end, a supply pipe, valves for connecting the same to either one of any of 2c the pairs of pipes, a discharge pipe, valves for connecting the same with either one of any of the pairs of pipes, a manifold to which the discharge pipe is connected, a valve controlled drain connected with the manifold, an indicator tank connected with the manifold, a valve in the connection, a plurality of supply tanks to which the supply pipe is connected, a valve for controlling the connection of each supply tank with the supso ply pipe, valve controlled means for connecting the indicator tank with any one of the supply tanks, a valve controlled vent in each of the supply tanks and the indicator tank and valve controlled means for connecting each of the supply tanks and the indicator tank with a source of pressure.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CULL O. HARALSON. 

